Timer



July 6*, 1926. v 1 1,591,588

H. H. WANDERS TIMER Filed Jan. 14, 1922 @9 Ufizaawzai Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H. WANDERS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NORTHERN INDUS- TRIAL CHEMICAL COMPANY, GE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TIMER.

Application filed January 14, 1922.

This invention relates to timers being more particularly designed for Ford cars.

One feature of the invention relates to the manner of fixing the relatively stationary contacts within the material of the timer casing which is preferably of balrelite or similar material, by which burning of this material through arcing between the stationary and moving contacts is avoided.

Another feature relates to the construction by which dust or other foreign matter is prevented from finding its way to the interior of the casing.

A further feature relates to the construction of the moving arm and the mounting of the contact member or shoe therein.

Further features and advantageous details and combinations of parts will appear from a description of certain embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the timer. Figure 2 1s a sect on on line 2-2 of F1gure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig ure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective of the dust guard or cap.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a Contact button before incorporation in the casing.

Figure 6 is a top plan of the button.

Figure 7 is an elevation partly in section of the button as prepared for incorporation. in the casing.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner face of the timer housing showing another and preferred form of stationary con tact.

Figure 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig ure 8.

Figure 10 is' a side elevation of the contact button of the form shown inFigures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the movable contact shoe and its mounting.

Figure 12 is a section on line 12l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure 11. i

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the timer comprises a casing 1, preferably formed of a phenol condensation product such as bakelite or other similar insulating material. This casing comprises a cylindrical housing portio 2 open at one e d'and clos d. a t e Serial No. 529,155.

other end by means of an annular portion 3 and a dome shaped end portion The end of this dome shaped portion has formed therein a central depression 5 which is adapted to receive the usual arm by which the timer casing on Ford cars is held in position against the forward end of the engine casing. At 6 is shown an arm made fast to the outer face of the annular portion 3 by means of rivets as 7 embedded in the material of the casing and headed over the outer face of the arm. This arm terminates in a rounded boss 8 having a central perforation 9 therethrough to which is attached the usual control arm by which the timer casing may be oscillated to vary the timing of the ignition. The portion 3 of the casing carries in circular series relatively stationary contacts which are preferably composed of metallic buttons such as 10 molded through the material of the casing and having on their outer ends threaded extensions 11 for the reception of nuts by which the wires leading to the spark plugs may be attached. These wires are commonly coated with insulating material dillierently colored for the various cylinders and if desired the casing may have molded therein correspond ing legends identifying the wires to be fastened to each button.

It is found in practice that the are pro duced by the making and breaking of contact between the usual rotary contact meun her or shoe and the relatively stationary contact buttons is liable to burn the 1nate rial of the casing, thus causing injury thereto. For the purpose of eliminating this ditficulty certain constructions which will now be described have been designed. One method of overcoming this difficulty is disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 inclusive. In this method the annular portion 8 is originally molded somewhat thicker than is desired for the finished casing, this thickness being indicated on its inner side by the dotted line in Figure 3. The buttons are made as shown in Figure 5, each having an annular knurled portion 15 to permit the material molded thereabout to find a firm hold. Adjacent this knurled portion is an outwardly.extending flange 16 defining with a similar flange 17 an annular recessed portion 18. The recessed portion 18 is filled with bb r or other suitable, gum 1,9

is vulcanized substantialy flush with ll peripheries of the flanges 16 and l 1 construction is shown in Figure e button so prepared is then molded in casing; in the position shown in Figure and the casing is then placed in a sui r machine and the inner face ot the portion together with the flanged end 17 ot the button removed, this causing); the inner end tare ot the button to be of the diameter oi the portion 18 and to be flush with the inner taco oi the casing the casing: being recessed about the inner ttuce ot the button and. a ring of the rubber or rulcanizable gum being seated, in the recess and interposed between their exposed surlaces. Any arcing which takes place between the movable shoe and contacts there'lore takes place over the gum portion and is not liable to burn "the material ofthe casing itself.

Another and preferred constrimtioin in which the recesses about the contact of the buttons are not filled with gum or other substan shown in Figures 8 9 and 10. In this form each button is vided with a circular portion huvino' a knurled periphery at 20 between portions 21 and 22 of reduced diameter. The button so v rude is molded through the annular i the inner end of the reduced portion flush with the inner wall of the e Molded or cut in the inner face ot tais easin is p ir of segmental slots which 'r to separate the contact Three of the button from the inner face oi the casing at diametrically opposite points and in line with the movement. ot the contact shoe. Any arcing; which takes place in this construction taltt place at the air gap formed by the slots .23 and therefore does not burn the ising.

The preferred form of contact shoe which is designed to serially contact the inner faces of the buttons is shown in and 13. A. collar is designed to be p over the end oi? the timer sh shown at dotted lines in Figure this coll being held for rotation with the shaft by any suitable means (not shown). The inner end oi? this collar has an enlarged flange portion 31. against the outer face of which is designed to be made 'l ast a contact shoe carrying 211"? This arm is preferably composed oi sheet material having a per iteration 33 therethrmigh through which the small. portion of the sleeve may pass. Suitable fastening means such as rivets 3 may then be passed through the arm and the flange 31 parallel to the axis of the sleeve for retaining the arm in position relative thereto. The outer end of this arm has an opening 35 therethrough which is designed to receive a contact shoe 86 which is provided at one end with ahead 37 of larger size than the opening 35 which holds the shoe from passing completely through the 1 LLL/ openinp". This shoe is positioned to contact serially on the inner tacos of the buttons as it is rotated by rotation of the shaft 31. It is held against these buttons or the inner face of the annular portion 3 by resilient means. This means as herein shown comprises a double spring member 38 which is coiled. at 39 about a pintle 40 and has an arm 41 extending over and into engagement with agroove e2 in the head 37 and the rear ends of which at l?) are held in fixed position. For the purpose of supportingthe pintle pin 4L0 a pair of cars llmay be struck upwardly from the material of the arm, these cars being perforated tor the reception of: the pintle. For the purpose of holding; the spring ends it in fixed position the material of the arm adjacent the collar or flange portion 3i. n'iay be bent to form a pair oi ridges (see Figure 13) to provide between the arm and the flange 31 a pair of grooves for the reception of the ends In order to further stitllon the arm its opposite side edges may be turned up to form stitl'ening flanges 46 and one oil. these flanges may be cut away as at 4-7 to form an opening throijigh which the pintle 410 may be inserted or removed. This pintle as shown comprises a cotter pin having a looped end -18 of usual term which is readily engageable for insertion or removal thereof.

In order to provide a more reliable elcctrical connection between the shoe and the arm than is afforded by contact of the shoe with the sides of the opening; 35, and through the spring 38, a flexible conductor ell) may be attached at one end to the shoe and at its other end to the arm, as herein shown, the connection the arm being made through one of the flanges 4-6. This connection is of such length that the motion of the shoe through the opening 3? is not restricted. The sleeve 30 together with the shoe is container within the casing 1 being slipped over the end of the timer sha'l t before the casing is placed in position.

In order to preventthe entry 01 dust or other iOlQlQH matter into the casing it is preferable to employ a dust guard or plate shown at 50 in Figures 2. and l. This plate has a central perforation 5'1 of su'l' icient diameter to permit the timer shalt f ll to pass freely therethrough. This plate is dished surrounding the perforation 51 as shown at and the outer marginal portion thereot-is flanged orer as shown at This flanged portion tits closely in e counterhored portion 54-. at the open end of the casing 1 so that the casing is free to be rocked there about, and seatedin the dished portion 52 is a suitable washer preferably of felt or similar material which forms a packing; between the timer shaft and the perforation 51. This packing bears against the outer end of the engine'casing shown in dotted lines at ill 56 (see Figures 2 and 3) and the annular portion 57 immediately within the flange 53 also rests against the engine casing. By this means the entry of foreign matter between the timer casing and the engine casing and into the timer is prevented.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. The method of fastening a contact button in a timer casing which comprises forming the button with a circumferential groove, filling said groove with a vulcanizable gum, and molding the button in the casing.

.2. The method of making a timer which comprises forming a plurality of contact buttons with circumferential grooves therein, molding rubber in said grooves, and molding the buttons with the rubber thereon in the walls of a timercasing.

3. The method of making a timer which comprises forming each of a plurality of contact buttons with a circumferential groove therein forming an outwardly eX- tending flange at one end, molding rubber in said grooves, molding the buttons with the rubber thereon in the wall of a timer casing, and turning off the inner face of said casing and the inner ends of said buttons to remove said flanges at the ends of said buttons and the inner surface of said casing.

f. A timer comprising a casing of mold able material, a plurality of contact buttons extending through the wall of said casing, and a rubber ring interposed between said. buttons and said wall on one face thereof.

5. In a timer, a flanged rotary timing shaft, an arm of sheet material made fast to said flange and having an opening through which said shaft passes and an opening near its free end, lugs struck from the material of said arm, a shoe having a head larger than the opening in the free end of said arm loosely positioned in said opening, a pintle carried by said lugs, and a spring coiled about said pintle and hearing at opposite ends respectively on the head of said shoe and between the shaft flange and said arm.

6. In a timer, a flanged rotary timing shaft, an arm of sheet material made fast to said flange and having an opening through which said shaft passes, and an opening near its free end, stiflening flanges at opposite sides of said arm, lugs struck from the material of said arm between said stiffening flanges, a shoe having a head larger than the opening in the free end of said arm loosely positioned in said opening, a pintle carried by said lugs, and a spring coiled about said pintle and bearing at opposite enc s, respectively, on the head of said shoe and between the shaft flange and said arm.

7. In a timer, a flanged rotary timing shaft, an arm of sheet material made fast to said flange and having an opening through which said shaft passes, and an opening near its free end, stiffening flanges at opposite sides of said arm, lugs struck from the material of said arm between said stiffening flanges, a shoe having a head larger than the opening in the free end of said arm loosely positioned in said opening, a pintle carried by said lugs, and a spring coiled about said pintle and bear ing at opposite ends, respectively, on the head of said shoe and between the shaft flange and said arm, one of said stiffening flanges having an opening through which said pintle may be inserted or removed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HANS I-I. VVANDERS. 

